Abstract: An X-ray source including: a liquid target source configured to provide a liquid target moving along a flow axis; an electron source configured to provide an electron beam; and a liquid target shaper configured to shape the liquid target to include a non-circular cross section with respect to the flow axis, wherein the non-circular cross section has a first width along a first axis and a second width along a second axis, wherein the first width is shorter than the second width, and wherein the liquid target includes an impact portion being intersected by the first axis; wherein the x-ray source is configured to direct the electron beam towards the impact portion such that the electron beam interacts with the liquid target within the impact portion to generate X-ray radiation.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies includes: a common substrate formed from a flexible resilient polymeric material and having a plurality of wells formed therein; and a plurality of rigid cell carriers releasably connected to said common substrate, with said carriers arranged in the form of an array, and with each of the carriers resiliently received in one of the wells. A method of collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies with such an apparatus is carried out by depositing a liquid media carrying cells on the apparatus so that said cells settle on or adhere to said the carriers; and then (c) releasing at least one selected carrier having said cells thereon by gradual application of release energy to each carrier from the cavity in which it is received (e.g., by pushing with a probe).

Abstract: An array of magnetic or paramagnetic micro-elements comprised of polysilsesquioxane is described having ultra-low-autofluorescence and other optical properties to improve microscopic imaging of cells or other objects present on the array. These materials are also amenable to chemical modification allowing surface attachment of affinity capture moieties or chemical reporters for selective binding or analysis of cells, macromolecules or other targets.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making a live cell construct or a support, comprising: (a) providing a non-cellular organic polymer support having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an intermediate portion there between, and (b) contacting a cross-linking agent to one surface of said support for a time sufficient to generate a gradient of cross-linking of said polymer in said intermediate portion. Also provided are live cell constructs, supports, and methods of use of the supports and live cell constructs.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies includes: a common substrate formed from a flexible resilient polymeric material and having a plurality of wells formed therein; and a plurality of rigid cell carriers releasably connected to said common substrate, with said carriers arranged in the form of an array, and with each of the carriers resiliently received in one of the wells. A method of collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies with such an apparatus is carried out by depositing a liquid media carrying cells on the apparatus so that said cells settle on or adhere to said the carriers; and then (c) releasing at least one selected carrier having said cells thereon by gradual application of release energy to each carrier from the cavity in which it is received (e.g., by pushing with a probe).

Abstract: A method for producing tissue constructs comprising two or more distinct regions, each of which comprises a different cell population or lineage is described. The method involves providing a support substrate or substrate assembly comprising two or more physically distinct regions, wherein the two or more physically distinct regions of the support substrate or substrate assembly are different from each other; and depositing/positioning one or more cells on the support substrate or substrate assembly. The cells can form a continuous monolayer with at least two zones, e.g., a proliferative zone and a nonproliferative zone, that can act as in vitro intestinal models. The models are two-dimensional, thus facilitating rapid and facile imaging. Systems comprising the tissue constructs and methods of using the constructs to study the effects of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and metabolites on intestinal cells are also described.

Abstract: A fan-shaped air suction spray nozzle automatically adjusting an air suction speed is provided in the present invention, which includes a spray nozzle body and a liquid channel, the spray nozzle body being provided with a liquid channel in communication with a nozzle hole, and further includes a pressure groove and an air intake channel, wherein an inlet section of the liquid channel is in communication with the pressure groove, and the air intake channel is in communication with the liquid channel after penetrating through the pressure groove; an air intake orifice plate is installed in the pressure groove through an elastic damping apparatus, and a change of the pressure at an inlet of the liquid channel causes the air intake orifice plate to move between the pressure groove and the air intake channel; the air intake orifice plate is provided with several through holes of the same or different sizes, which are configured to change the air intake volume in the liquid channel as the air intake orifice plate m

Abstract: Provided are new strategies, methods and systems, described herein as vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-assisted air-liquid-interface (ALI) culture, to significantly increase the number of enteroendocrine (EEC) and enterochromaffin (EC) cells over the traditional submerged culture, while at the same time maintaining a high barrier integrity of monolayers. The new strategies, methods and systems overcome the limitations of the existing EEC enrichment methods by maintaining high cell viability and barrier integrity and without requiring complicated procedures of cocultures or genetic engineering/induction. The created EEC-enriched, contiguous monolayer platform acts as a robust analytical tool to enable functional studies of hormone secretion from EEC cells with high signal background ratio and repeatability.

Abstract: A method for producing tissue constructs comprising two or more distinct regions, each of which comprises a different cell population or lineage is described. The method involves providing a support substrate or substrate assembly comprising two or more physically distinct regions, wherein the two or more physically distinct regions of the support substrate or substrate assembly are different from each other; and depositing/positioning one or more cells on the support substrate or substrate assembly. The cells can form a continuous monolayer with at least two zones, e.g., a proliferative zone and a nonproliferative zone, that can act as in vitro intestinal models. The models are two-dimensional, thus facilitating rapid and facile imaging Systems comprising the tissue constructs and methods of using the constructs to study the effects of pharmaceuticals, uutraceuticais, and metabolites on intestinal cells are also described.

Abstract: A microfabricated device having at least one gas-entrapping feature formed therein in a configuration that entraps air bubbles upon wetting the feature with a solvent or solution is described. The device includes a sacrificial residue in contact with the gas-entrapping feature, the dissolution of which guides the wetting of the gas-entrapping feature.

Abstract: A fan-shaped air suction spray nozzle automatically adjusting an air suction speed is provided in the present invention, which includes a spray nozzle body and a liquid channel, the spray nozzle body being provided with a liquid channel in communication with a nozzle hole, and further includes a pressure groove and an air intake channel, wherein an inlet section of the liquid channel is in communication with the pressure groove, and the air intake channel is in communication with the liquid channel after penetrating through the pressure groove; an air intake orifice plate is installed in the pressure groove through an elastic damping apparatus, and a change of the pressure at an inlet of the liquid channel causes the air intake orifice plate to move between the pressure groove and the air intake channel; the air intake orifice plate is provided with several through holes of the same or different sizes, which are configured to change the air intake volume in the liquid channel as the air intake orifice plate m

Abstract: An X-ray source including: a liquid target source configured to provide a liquid target moving along a flow axis; an electron source configured to provide an electron beam; and a liquid target shaper configured to shape the liquid target to include a non-circular cross section with respect to the flow axis, wherein the non-circular cross section has a first width along a first axis and a second width along a second axis, wherein the first width is shorter than the second width, and wherein the liquid target includes an impact portion being intersected by the first axis; wherein the x-ray source is configured to direct the electron beam towards the impact portion such that the electron beam interacts with the liquid target within the impact portion to generate X-ray radiation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition of Tecovirimat for injection, comprising Tecovirimat as an active ingredient, cyclodextrin and an additive. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing the pharmaceutical composition. The composition improves the solubility of Tecovirimat in water by using cyclodextrin and meglumine in combination, as compared with the solubility of Tecovirimat in water by using cyclodextrin or meglumine alone.

Abstract: The present inventive concept relates to an X-ray source comprising: a liquid target source configured to provide a liquid target moving along a flow axis; an electron source configured to provide an electron beam; and a liquid target shaper configured to shape the liquid target to comprise a non-circular cross section with respect to the flow axis, wherein the non-circular cross section has a first width along a first axis and a second width along a second axis, wherein the first width is shorter than the second width, and wherein the liquid target comprises an impact portion being intersected by the first axis; wherein the x-ray source is configured to direct the electron beam towards the impact portion such that the electron beam interacts with the liquid target within the impact portion to generate X-ray radiation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition, comprising Tecovirimat, cyclodextrin and an additive, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing the pharmaceutical composition. The composition improves the solubility of Tecovirimat in water by using cyclodextrin and meglumine in combination, as compared with the solubility of Tecovirimat in water by using cyclodextrin or meglumine alone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protein particle with a poorly water-soluble drug encapsulated therein and a preparation method therefor. The preparation method comprises the following steps: i) dissolving a poorly water-soluble drug and a liquid solubilizer into a good solvent; ii) partially or fully removing said good solvent from the product of step i); iii) mixing the product of step ii) with a protein; and iv) dispersing the product of step iii) in a poor solvent. The preparation method is simple and is suitable for industrial production.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies includes: a common substrate formed from a flexible resilient polymeric material and having a plurality of wells formed therein; and a plurality of rigid cell carriers releasably connected to said common substrate, with said carriers arranged in the form of an array, and with each of the carriers resiliently received in one of the wells. A method of collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies with such an apparatus is carried out by depositing a liquid media carrying cells on the apparatus so that said cells settle on or adhere to said the carriers; and then (c) releasing at least one selected carrier having said cells thereon by gradual application of release energy to each carrier from the cavity in which it is received (e.g., by pushing with a probe).

Abstract: This presently disclosed subject matter relates to an in vitro cell culture comprising a cell monolayer comprising mucus producing cells and a mucus layer, and methods of making and using the same. The methods including culturing mucus producing cells on a cell support structure under conditions to establish a mucus layer on the luminal side of the cell monolayer, thereby producing a live cell construct comprising a cell monolayer comprising mucus producing cells and a mucus layer. The mucus layer can be substantially impenetrable to micro-objects, and have a thickness of about 1 micron to about 1 cm.

Abstract: A method of making a live cell construct is carried out by: (a) providing a non-cellular support having a top surface and a bottom surface, (b) contacting live undifferentiated cells to the non-cellular support, and then (c) propagating a gastrointestinal epithelial cell monolayer on said top surface. In some embodiments, the live cells in the monolayer include: (i) undifferentiated cells (e.g., stem or progenitor cells); and (ii) optionally, but in some embodiments preferably, differentiated cells (e.g., enterocytes, Paneth cells, enteroendocrine cells, tuft cells, microcells, intra-epithelial lymphocytes, and/or goblet cells). Constructs formed by such methods and methods of using the same (e.g., in high through-put screening) are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies includes: a common substrate formed from a flexible resilient polymeric material and having a plurality of wells formed therein; and a plurality of rigid cell carriers releasably connected to said common substrate, with said carriers arranged in the form of an array, and with each of the carriers resiliently received in one of the wells. A method of collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies with such an apparatus is carried out by depositing a liquid media carrying cells on the apparatus so that said cells settle on or adhere to said the carriers; and then (c) releasing at least one selected carrier having said cells thereon by gradual application of release energy to each carrier from the cavity in which it is received (e.g., by pushing with a probe).